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An Examination of Downstream Effects of Bereavement on Healthcare Utilization for Surviving Spouses in a National Sample of Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:While bereavement is associated with increased mortality, it is unclear how bereaved families utilize the healthcare system after the death of their loved ones. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to examine the association between bereavement and healthcare expenditures for surviving spouses. METHODS:We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of older adults linked to Medicare claims. We determined a spouse's total Medicare expenditures 2 years before and after their partner's death across six biennial interview waves. Using coarsened exact matching, we created a comparison group of non-bereaved dyads. Costs were wage index- and inflation-adjusted to 2017 dollars. We used generalized linear models and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to calculate the average marginal effects of bereavement on Medicare spending by gender. We also examined subgroup differences based on caregiver status, cause of death, and length of terminal illness. RESULTS:Our sample consisted of 941 bereaved dyads and a comparison group of 8899 matched dyads. Surviving female spouses (68% of the sample) had a $3500 increase in spending 2 years after death (p?

SUBMITTER: Ornstein KA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6465109 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Examination of Downstream Effects of Bereavement on Healthcare Utilization for Surviving Spouses in a National Sample of Older Adults.

Ornstein Katherine A KA Garrido Melissa M MM Siu Albert L AL Bollens-Lund Evan E Rahman Omari-Khalid OK Kelley Amy S AS

PharmacoEconomics 20190401 4

<h4>Background</h4>While bereavement is associated with increased mortality, it is unclear how bereaved families utilize the healthcare system after the death of their loved ones.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this study was to examine the association between bereavement and healthcare expenditures for surviving spouses.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of older adults linked to Medicare claims. We determined a spouse's tota ...[more]

PMID: 30864065

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Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of the frailty phenotype with subsequent healthcare costs and utilization.DesignProspective cohort study (Osteoporotic Fracture in Men [MrOS]).SettingSix US sites.ParticipantsA total of 1,514 community-dwelling men (mean age = 79.3 years) participating in the MrOS Year 7 (Y7) examination linked with their Medicare claims data.MeasurementsAt Y7, the frailty phenotype was operationalized using five components and categorized as robust, pre-frail, or frail. Multimorbidity and a frailty indicator (approximating the deficit accumulation index) were derived from claims data. Functional limitations were assessed by asking about difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living. Total direct healthcare costs and utilization were ascertained during 36 months following Y7.ResultsMean of total annualized costs (2018 dollars) was $5,707 (standard deviation [SD] = 8,800) among robust, $8,964 (SD = 18,156) among pre-frail, and $20,027 (SD = 27,419) among frail men. Compared with robust men, frail men (cost ratio [CR] = 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-2.93) and pre-frail men (CR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.11-1.48) incurred greater total costs after adjustment for demographics, multimorbidity, and cognitive function. Associations of phenotypic pre-frailty and frailty with higher total costs were somewhat attenuated but persisted after further consideration of functional limitations and a claims-based frailty indicator. Each individual frailty component was also associated with higher total costs. Frail vs robust men had higher odds of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.75-3.91) and skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay (OR = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.83-6.20). A smaller but significant effect of the pre-frail category on SNF stay was present.ConclusionPhenotypic pre-frailty and frailty were associated with higher subsequent total healthcare costs in older community-dwelling men after accounting for a claims-based frailty indicator, functional limitations, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and demographics. Assessment of the frailty phenotype or individual components such as slowness may improve identification of older community-dwelling adults at risk for costly extensive care.

Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of the frailty phenotype with subsequent healthcare costs and utilization.DesignProspective cohort study (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF)).SettingFour U.S. sites.ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling women (mean age 80.2) participating in SOF Year 10 (Y10) examination linked with their Medicare claims data (N=2,150).MeasurementsAt Y10, frailty phenotype defined using criteria similar to those used in the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty phenotype and categorized as robust, intermediate stage, or frail. Participant multimorbidity burden ascertained using claims data. Functional limitations assessed by asking about difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living. Total direct healthcare costs and utilization ascertained during 12 months after Y10.ResultsMean total annualized cost±standard deviation (2014 dollars) was $3,781±6,920 for robust women, $6,632±12,452 for intermediate stage women, and $10,755 ± 16,589 for frail women. After adjustment for age, site, multimorbidity burden, and cognition, frail women had greater mean total (cost ratio (CR)=1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.59-2.31) and outpatient (CR=1.55, 95% CI=1.36-1.78) costs than robust women and greater odds of hospitalization (odds ratio (OR)=2.05, 95% CI=1.47-2.87) and a skilled nursing facility stay (OR=3.85, 95% CI=1.88-7.88). There were smaller but significant effects of the intermediate stage category on these outcomes. Individual frailty components (shrinking, poor energy, slowness, low physical activity) were also each associated with higher total costs. Functional limitations partially mediated the association between the frailty phenotype and total costs (CR further adjusted for self-reported limitations=1.32, 95% CI=1.07-1.63 for frail vs robust; CR=1.35, 95% CI=1.18-1.55 for intermediate stage vs robust women).ConclusionIntermediate stage and frail older community-dwelling women had higher subsequent total healthcare costs and utilization after accounting for multimorbidity and functional limitations. Frailty phenotype assessment may improve identification of older adults likely to require costly, extensive care.

Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of life-space score with subsequent healthcare costs and utilization.DesignProspective cohort study (Osteoporotic Fracture in Men [MrOS]).SettingSix U.S. sites.ParticipantsA total of 1555 community-dwelling men (mean age 79.3 years; 91.5% white, non-Hispanic) participating in the MrOS Year 7 (Y7) examination linked with their Medicare claims data.MeasurementsLife-space during the past month was assessed as 0 (daily restriction to one's bedroom) to 120 (daily trips outside one's town without assistance) and categorized (0-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-120). Total annualized direct healthcare costs and utilization were ascertained during 36 months after the Y7 examination.ResultsMean total annualized costs (2020 U.S. dollars) steadily increased across category of life-space score, from $7954 (standard deviation [SD] 16,576) among men with life-space scores of 101-120 to $26,430 (SD 28,433) among men with life-space scores of 0-40 (p < 0.001). After adjustment for demographics, men with a life-space score of 0-40 versus men with a life-space score of 101-120 had greater mean total costs (cost ratio [CR] = 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.84-3.45) and greater risk of subsequent hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 4.72, 95% CI 2.61-8.53) and skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay (OR 7.32, 95% CI 3.65-14.66). Life-space score was no longer significantly associated with total healthcare costs (CR for 0-40 vs 101-120 1.29; 95% CI 0.91-1.84) and hospitalization (OR 1.76, 95% CI 0.89-3.51) after simultaneous consideration of demographics, medical factors, self-reported health and function, and the frailty phenotype; the association of life-space with SNF stay remained significant (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.26-6.49).ConclusionOur results highlight the importance of function and mobility in predicting future healthcare costs and suggest the simple and convenient life-space score may in part capture risks from major geriatric domains and improve identification of older, community-dwelling men likely to require costly care.

Dataset Information

An Examination of Downstream Effects of Bereavement on Healthcare Utilization for Surviving Spouses in a National Sample of Older Adults.

Publications

An Examination of Downstream Effects of Bereavement on Healthcare Utilization for Surviving Spouses in a National Sample of Older Adults.

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